Benefit for Downers Grove nonprofit to pair wine, food

DOWNERS GROVE – The Downers Grove Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago has planned a "perfect pairing" to help in-need mothers and babies.

The first annual benefit will pair wine with six food courses at the Glen Oak Country Club in Glen Ellyn at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27.

The Downers Grove chapter's publicity chair Suzette Rickert said the group plans to make this its biggest fundraiser of the year, replacing its previous annual event at the Arlington race track.

The organization aims to raise $40,000 at the event. Proceeds go to the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago's clinic in the Logan Square neighborhood, which provides dental, medical, educational and psychological services for children and gynecological, social work and child care education for women.

Diners at the Glen Oak Country Club event will start with mini bread bowls with artichoke and spinach dip, along with cheese, crackers and roasted veggies.

From there, the Glen Oak Country Club chef will serve a spinach salad with peaches, golden beets, red peppers and a citrus vinaigrette. Salmon is also optional on the salad.

Entrees include beef medallions with a red-wine risotto and roasted mushrooms, herb-crusted pork tenderloin with tasso ham stuffing and a mostacholi pasta with Rossini sauce.

The feast will be topped off with a dessert of mini creme brulee, chocolate mousse cups and mini fruit tarts.

Tickets are $100 per person.

Each course will be available at a different room, and diners can go from station-to-station at their own pace. At each station, wine experts will present three wines that pair well with the food course.

"I'm really looking forward to No. 1, the food, because I've been to the Glen Oak Country Club and the food is outstanding," Rickert said. "And No. 2, I'm looking forward to just being able to walk around at my own leisure, look at the auction items, try different foods and not have to have a formal sit-down meal."

The club decided to do a food-and-wine pairing event after a similar but smaller fundraiser in the spring sold out.

There will also be a silent auction and raffle. Participants can also donate directly to a clinical service, Rickert said. For example, someone could choose to donate the cost of a mammogram for a mother at the clinic or a dental check-up for a child.

"It's really nice because we know where our donations are going," Rickert said. "Unlike a lot of places you donate to where you don't know where the money's going."